25/8. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3106 — Best and Worst People
The Virtue Of The One Who Strives In The Cause Of Allah On His Feet
Best and Worst People Hadith from Tabuk
Sunan an-Nasai : 3106
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3106
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَامَ تَبُوكَ يَخْطُبُ النَّاسَ وَهُوَ مُسْنِدٌ ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ فَقَالَ " أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ النَّاسِ وَشَرِّ النَّاسِ إِنَّ مِنْ خَيْرِ النَّاسِ رَجُلاً عَمِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَلَى ظَهْرِ فَرَسِهِ أَوْ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَعِيرِهِ أَوْ عَلَى قَدَمِهِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ وَإِنَّ مِنْ شَرِّ النَّاسِ رَجُلاً فَاجِرًا يَقْرَأُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ لاَ يَرْعَوِي إِلَى شَىْءٍ مِنْهُ " .
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri Narrated from:
In the year of Tabuk, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed the people, while leaning against his mount. He said: 'Shall I not tell you of the best of the people and the worst of the people? Among the best of the people is a man who strives in the cause of Allah on the back of his horse, or on the back of his camel, or on his own two feet, until death comes to him. And among the worst of the people, is an immoral man (Fajir) who reads the Book of Allah but he does not refrain from doing anything bad because of it.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3106In-book reference : Book 25, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 1, Book 25, Hadith 3108
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3106
This hadith about the best and worst people was spoken in the year of Tabuk while the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed the people. He described one of the best people as a man who works in the cause of Allah on a horse, camel, or on foot until death reaches him. Then he described one of the worst people as an immoral man who reads the Book of Allah but does not stop doing anything bad because of it. The hadith strongly connects reading Allah’s Book with personal change. It also praises steady effort in the cause of Allah. For searches like best and worst people hadith, this narration gives both encouragement and warning in one clear message.
What we learn from this hadith
- Working in the cause of Allah is praised in this narration.
- Reading Allah’s Book should affect a person’s conduct.
- The hadith warns against reading scripture while continuing in bad actions.
- Effort may be made by riding or walking, as mentioned in the text.
